Welcome to Number 16, the fun website that is all about words, language and literature. It is named after my favourite number. I am Joanne Madden and I'm from Toronto, Canada. To find out what I have written on any topic, use the search box directly below. For TV trivia, please check my other website, TV Banter (www.tvbanter.net).

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Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Beautiful Star of BethlehemShining afar through the shadows dimGiving the light to those who have long goneGuiding the Wise Men on their wayUnto the place where Jesus layBeautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on
(Arthur Leroy "A.L." Phipps wrote the song "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" in the Southern Gospel tradition. A.L. was the leader of an American country music group called the Phipps Family. Tragically, he was brutally murdered during a robbery in his own home on August 30, 1995.)

This Christmas, I look to the Star of Bethlehem for hope and inspiration. 2018 has been a difficult year for our world. I am truly frightened by the force of political and social upheaval around the globe. I am also profoundly disturbed by the death of leadership among our most prominent politicians. It seems that not only young people need to be educated on the history of fascism and the horrors of the Holocaust and the Second World War.

The lack of civil discourse, especially in the United States, is disconcerting to me. The anger, the extreme political partisanship and the defamation of immigrants are ugly and deplorable. I am deeply dismayed by the rise of the far right and authoritarian governments as well as by the devastation caused by climate change. According to scientists, 2019 may be the warmest year on record due to global warming and impacts ofEl Niño. The effects of El Niño have been more harsh in recent years and will worsen as temperatures continue to rise, a recent study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

My country, Canada, is definitely not immune from these problems, and it is far from perfect. Despite its blemishes, however, Canada is a virtual paradise compared to some places in the world. I have never experienced war and I hope I never will. It is difficult not to be distraught during this difficult days. However, despair and apathy are not the answer. We all need something to focus on, something to steady us during these turbulent times. That's why I have chosen to focus on the Star of Bethlehem this Christmas and to seek solace as we enter a New Year.

The Star of Bethlehem is only mentioned in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew describes it as mysterious star appearing above the place where Jesus was born, which led the wise men from east (the Maji) to the birthplace of the Messiah. Was the Star of Bethlehem really a star? That has been the subject of much debate. Mark L. Kidger, of the European Space Astronomy Centre in Madrid, Spain, says that it was actually a star, an exceptionally bright one called a "nova." Some believe it was a miracle, while others consider it a fable, a literary device that the apostle Matthew used to express the light of hope brought by the arrival of the Messiah. For me, it is the light of hope that the Star of Bethlehem represents that matters most. This Christmas, I will follow that star and it will lead me out of the shadows.

NUMBER 16: FEATURED PHOTOS AND ART

TODAY IS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2019.

CLIMATE CRISIS: TIME IS RUNNING OUT. THE AMAZON RAINFOREST ON FIRE, HURRICANE DORIAN, WHAT NEXT?

Climate change is real. It is not a hoax. It has been scientifically proven. The world must come together and deal with it decisively before it is too late. The hurricanes, floods and wildfires are becoming more frequent and more destructive. The clock is ticking. (Click on image above).

DONALD TRUMP

The United States and the rest of the world cannot afford another four years of this man. Return America to decency. The Oath of Allegiance is to the United States, not to Trump. Americans, if you are undecided, don't vote for another four years of racism, locking kids in cages, misogyny, lying, bullying, gun violence, criminality and obstruction of justice, harming the environment and ignoring climate change, no minimum wage increases for workers, no health insurance for millions and tax breaks for billionaires..

About Me

I am a native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For many years, I worked as a researcher and archivist at the Toronto Star, the largest newspaper in Canada. I like to share my interest in trivia, television, current events, politics, movies, quotes etc.